Ruairi Ó Murchú (Louth, Sinn Fein)
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65. To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine his views on the recent report completed by Teagasc and submitted to his Department about the impact on farmers following damage to their farmland as a result of recent flooding on the Cooley Peninsula in November 2023; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [18433/24]

Ruairi Ó Murchú (Louth, Sinn Fein)
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Will the Minister give his views on the recent report submitted to his Department by Teagasc about the impact on farmers following damage to their farmland as a result of the flooding on the Cooley Peninsula in November 2023? We have discussed this a number of times. We spoke about the fact that there is not an off-the-shelf support scheme. I am very glad this piece of work was done. I would like to think we would come up with something that can compensate farmers and even deal with some of these circumstances into the future as they are sure to happen.

Charlie McConalogue (Donegal, Fianna Fail)
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I thank Deputy Ó Murchú for raising this matter, which we have discussed on previous occasions. I have been working very closely with Senator Erin McGreehan on stepping this out, getting a full assessment of the impact of that particular weather event and stepping forward a response to it. As the Deputy knows, there was exceptionally heavy rainfall in October and November, with two back-to-back storms occurring between 18 October and 1 November. That later storm, on 30 and 31 October, saw high winds and unprecedented rainfall on already saturated ground, which resulted in localised flooding in the Cooley Peninsula. During this time, the River Flurry and other smaller streams burst their banks and washed away field fencing and gateways. The heavy rain also caused landslides from the Cooley Mountains which deposited large rocks, gravel and debris on agricultural lands in addition to loss and damage to stored fodder and fertiliser supplies. In these cases, land users have not been able to utilise agricultural lands without carrying out remedial works and some have reported fodder shortages. Access to affected lands has been restricted for farmers too and activities such as conserving fodder cannot be carried out in the normal way. These farmers have also seen the same poor weather conditions as other farmers across the country with exceptional rainfall over several months and the challenges that brings.

In order to assist these farmers, and working particularly with Senator McGreehan, my Department requested local Teagasc staff to carry out a survey of the affected areas. These reports have been received in my Department and they detail the impact of flooding on individual land holdings situated in the Cooley Peninsula. The Department is currently analysing these surveys to fully assess the damage done to individual farmers and land and it is something on which I will be following through after that. I will update the House on this and no doubt Senator McGreehan will be in a position to clarify as well when I have brought it to a conclusion.

Ruairi Ó Murchú (Louth, Sinn Fein)
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Gabhaim buíochas leis an Aire. I welcome the fact that work has been done. Obviously, we need that analysis to happen as soon as possible. I welcome the fact that the Minister says he will be following through. I will take that as his expression of support for the scheme that is needed by these farmers. Along with many Oireachtas Members and local councillors including Councillor Antóin Watters, I attended a number of meetings with farmers and one in particular. A huge amount of their worry relates to the remedial work that is needed, even if a scheme comes in. I spoke to the Minister about the fact that they had no choice but to carry out some remedial works. As the Minister said, they could not access a huge amount of their own farmland and they needed to do certain things to mitigate the possibility of future flooding. They need to make sure they will be able to get compensation if these works, which could not wait, fall under the ambit of any future compensation scheme.

Charlie McConalogue (Donegal, Fianna Fail)
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I thank Deputy Ó Murchú. It is something we have been monitoring closely. It has had a significant, very localised impact. Unlike the Department of Enterprise, Trade and Employment and the Department of Social Protection, we have no shelf-ready scheme in instances where there might be particular damage to farms, which tend to be more robust and obviously not as impacted as towns and villages by events like those we saw earlier this year in some parts of the country. In this instance, I recognise the damage that was done. I am working with Teagasc and with my own officials to get a full assessment of that. I have spoken to the Deputy on this. I am speaking on an ongoing basis with Senator McGreehan. We will be stepping it out in assessing the full report and identifying the next steps in that regard.

Ruairi Ó Murchú (Louth, Sinn Fein)
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I appreciate that. We need to see this happen as soon as possible. If I could get further clarity on the timeline, I would appreciate it. We all understand the significant damage that was done by the storms to these particular farmlands. In doing this piece of work, maybe it will be possible to put together something that could provide an off-the-shelf support scheme that will be necessary, unfortunately, when dealing with the type of weather events we are having more regularly now. We need to make sure we can provide those sorts of supports to ensure we can maintain sustainable family farms into the future. This needs to be done quicker, better, faster and as soon as possible. If the Minister has any detail on the timeline, I would really appreciate it.

Charlie McConalogue (Donegal, Fianna Fail)
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The report is being finalised and assessed and I hope to have further detail shortly. I thank the Deputy for raising the issue today.

Seán Ó Fearghaíl (Kildare South, Ceann Comhairle)
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Has Question No. 66 been taken?

Paul Murphy (Dublin South West, RISE)
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I can introduce it. It is about dairy farmers.

Seán Ó Fearghaíl (Kildare South, Ceann Comhairle)
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I do not mind what it is about. On you go.

Paul Murphy (Dublin South West, RISE)
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It is just, given yesterday, the Ceann Comhairle might be interested. We would at least get the answer.